Chinese, Cuban, and Iranian non-alignment strategies in a comparative perspective

Author:
Sadri, Houman Ahmad, Woodrow Wilson Department of Government and Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
Advisors:
Ramazani, Rouhollah K., Woodrow Wilson Department of Government and Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
Claude, Inis L., Woodrow Wilson Department of Government and Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
Abstract:

This dissertation is a comparative study of the nonalignment strategies of Iran, Cuba, and China in the first decade of their post-revolution periods. This study describes and explains the non-alignment strategy of each state and then compares them with one another. Although there are differences among these Third World states, considering their geographic locations, size, wealth, military capabilities, leadership characteristics, political institutions, and nature of their foreign policies, there are significant similarities regarding their foreign policy goals and the trends in their relationships with the superpowers.

Although the non-alignment strategies of the revolutionary regimes were fed by a combination of national and international factors, leadership played a significant role in the policymaking process. In all three states, the tone of the non-alignment strategy was set by the revolutionary leaders who were either idealists or realists. The idealists tended to take a more active and conflictual approach toward one or both of the superpowers, while the realists were more cautious and less willing to resort to such a conflictual posture. This study also investigates the gap between the theoretical and practical non-alignment stand of each state. Furthermore, it examines how genuine each non-alignment strategy has been. Finally, this cross-regional study provides policy analysts not only with clues about the foreign policies of other Third World states in similar situations, but also with suggestions about how a great power may relate to the non-alignment strategy of a Third World state during its first post-revolution decade.

Note: Abstract extracted from PDF file via OCR.

Degree:
PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Keywords:
Iran, Cuba, China, post revolution periods, Third World states, foreign relations.
Language:
English
Rights:
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
Issued Date:
1993